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{{Short description|American singer (born 1962)}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| image        = Paula Abdul Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2023.jpg
| caption      = Abdul at [[GalaxyCon]] Raleigh in 2023
| alt          = 
| birth_name   = Paula Julie Abdul
| alias        = 
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1962|6|19}}
| birth_place  = [[San Fernando, California]], U.S.
| relations    = 
| spouse       = {{plain list|
* {{marriage|[[Emilio Estevez]]|1992|1994|end=div}}
* {{marriage|Brad Beckerman|1996|1998|end=div}}
}}
| children     = 
| net_worth    = 
| alma_mater   = [[California State University, Northridge]]
| occupation   = {{flat list|
* Singer
* dancer
* choreographer
* actress
* television personality
}}
| years_active = 1978&ndash;present
| module       = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background   = solo_singer
| genre        = {{flatlist|
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&<span class="ltr">B</span>]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[Dance music|dance]]
* [[new jack swing]]
}}
| instrument   = Vocals<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| label        = {{flatlist|
* [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
* Captive 
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulaabdul/articles/story/5927750/paula_abdul_signs_with_mercury_records|title=Paula Abdul Signs with Mercury Records|at=web.archive.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807054909/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulaabdul/articles/story/5927750/paula_abdul_signs_with_mercury_records|date=1997-10-31|archive-date=2007-08-07|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=[[Wenner Media]]|access-date=2015-04-09|url-status=dead|quote=Former Virgin Records recording artist Paula Abdul has signed a multirecord deal with Mercury Records}}</ref>
* [[Concord Records|Concord]]
* Filament
}}
}}
| website         = {{URL|paulaabdul.com}}
}}

'''Paula Julie Abdul''' (born June 19, 1962)<ref name=tvg>{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul {{ndash}} Biography|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paula-abdul/bio/196941/|work=[[TV Guide|TVGuide.com]]|access-date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518090206/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paula-abdul/bio/196941/|archive-date=May 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She began her career as a [[National Basketball Association Cheerleading|cheerleader]] for the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] at the age of 18 and later became the head choreographer for the [[Laker Girls]], where she was discovered by [[The Jackson 5|the Jacksons]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Masters|first=Steve|title=Introducing Paula Abdul - interview|url=http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/news_articles.php?p=103|newspaper=Record Mirror|access-date=2014-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911182216/http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/news_articles.php?p=103|archive-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> After choreographing music videos for [[Janet Jackson]], Abdul became a choreographer at the height of the music video era and soon thereafter she was signed to [[Virgin Records]]. Her debut studio album ''[[Forever Your Girl]]'' (1988) became one of the most successful debut albums at that time, selling seven million copies in the United States and setting a record for the most number-one singles from a debut album on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart: "[[Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)|Straight Up]]", "[[Forever Your Girl (song)|Forever Your Girl]]", "[[Cold Hearted (Paula Abdul song)|Cold Hearted]]", and "[[Opposites Attract]]". Her second album [[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|''Spellbound'']] (1991) scored her two more chart-toppers – "[[Rush Rush (Paula Abdul song)|Rush Rush]]" and "[[The Promise of a New Day]]". With six number-one singles on Hot 100, Abdul tied [[Diana Ross]] for the third-most chart-toppers among female solo artists at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bronson |first=Frea |title=Chart Beat: T.I., James Taylor, Kellie Pickler |magazine=Billboard |date=October 9, 2008 |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/bonus_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003872634 |access-date=March 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011144713/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/bonus_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003872634 |archive-date=October 11, 2008 }}</ref>

Abdul was one of the original judges on the television series ''[[American Idol]]'' from 2002 to 2009, and has since appeared as a judge on ''[[The X Factor (<span class="ltr">US</span>)|The X Factor]]'', ''[[Live to Dance]]'', ''[[So You Think You Can Dance]]'', and ''[[The Masked Dancer (American TV series)|The Masked Dancer]]''. She received choreography credits in numerous films, including ''[[Can't Buy Me Love (film)|Can't Buy Me Love]]'' (1987), ''[[The Running Man (1987 film)|The Running Man]]'' (1987), ''[[Coming to America]]'' (1988), ''[[Action Jackson (1988 film)|Action Jackson]]'' (1988), ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'' (1991), ''[[Jerry Maguire]]'' (1996), and ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]'' (1999). She received 17 [[MTV Video Music Award]] nominations, winning five, as well as receiving the [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video]] for "Opposites Attract" in 1991. She received the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography]] twice for her work on ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'', and her own performance at the [[American Music Awards]] in 1990. Abdul was honored with her own star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], and is the first entertainer to be honored with the [[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards]]' Hall of Fame Award.

==Early life==
Abdul was born in [[San Fernando, California]]. She is Jewish:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Abdul |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/paula-abdul |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref> her father, Harry Abdul, is of [[Syrian Jewish]] heritage and was born in [[Aleppo]], [[Syria]], raised in Brazil and emigrated to the United States.<ref name="Eichner">{{cite news|author=Itamar Eichner|title=i minister, American Idol|publisher=YNetNews.com|date=November 17, 2006|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html|access-date=November 17, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119140912/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html|archive-date=November 19, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> Her mother, Lorraine (Rykiss), was a concert pianist of Jewish heritage, from [[Minnedosa, Manitoba]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eichner |first1=Itamar |title=Israeli minister, American Idol |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html |newspaper=Ynetnews|date=November 17, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Runtagh|first=Jordan|title=Paula Abdul Was 'By Her Mom's Side' as Mother Lorraine Died at Age 85|url=https://people.com/music/paula-abdul-mother-lorraine-dead/|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=January 24, 2022|magazine=People}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2018/01/19/death-of-paula-abduls-mother-brings-minnedosa-attention | title=Jan 2018: Death of Paula Abdul's mother brings Minnedosa attention | date=January 19, 2018 }}</ref> Abdul has an older sister named Wendy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/paula-abdul-and-her-sister-wendy-abdul-attend-paula-abdul-news-photo/170996891|title=Paula Abdul Celebrates Her Birthday At Aventine Hollywood|date=June 21, 2013 |publisher=[[Getty Images]]|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414061334/http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/paula-abdul-and-her-sister-wendy-abdul-attend-paula-abdul-news-photo/170996891|archive-date=14 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> As an avid dancer, Abdul was inspired towards a show business career by [[Gene Kelly]] in the film ''[[Singin' in the Rain]]''.<ref name="Rollingstone">{{cite web|last1=Parker|first1=Lyndsey|title=Paula Abdul's Favorite Choreography Moments of Her Career|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paula-abduls-favorite-choreography-moments-of-her-career-20140718|website=rollingstone.com|date=July 18, 2014|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221423/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paula-abduls-favorite-choreography-moments-of-her-career-20140718|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Abdul began taking dance lessons at an early age in [[ballet]], [[Jazz dance|jazz]], and [[Tap dance|tap]]. She attended [[Van Nuys High School]], where she was a cheerleader and an honor student.<ref name="WSJ" /> At 15, she received a scholarship to a dance camp near [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]], and in 1978, appeared in a low-budget independent musical film, ''[[Junior High School (film)|Junior High School]]''. In 1980, she graduated from Van Nuys High School.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news|title=Paula Abdul on Her Secret Childhood Dance Studio|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/paula-abdul-on-her-secret-childhood-dance-studio-1479829799|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703122351/https://www.wsj.com/articles/paula-abdul-on-her-secret-childhood-dance-studio-1479829799|archive-date=3 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul studied [[broadcasting]] at the [[California State University, Northridge]]. During her freshman year, she was selected from a pool of 700 candidates for the [[cheerleading]] squad of the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] NBA basketball team—the famed [[Laker Girls]]. Within a year, she became head [[Choreography|choreographer]].<ref name="LAT19911222">{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-22/sports/sp-1552_1_laker-girl-style| title=The Greatest Flattery: Success of the Knicks' New Dancers Simply Proves What the Lakers Have Known All Along| last=Cart| first=Julie| date=December 22, 1991| work=[[Los Angeles Times]]| access-date=January 17, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024060720/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-22/sports/sp-1552_1_laker-girl-style| archive-date=October 24, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref> She remained with the Laker Girls until 1986.<ref name="LakerGirls">{{cite web|author=Dennis Hunt|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-12-ca-2808-story.html|title=Ex-Laker Girl Slam-Dunks : Paula Abdul scores with new singing career and debut album|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 12, 1989|accessdate=April 18, 2022}}</ref>

==Career==
===1982–1986: Career beginnings===
Abdul was discovered by [[The Jackson 5|the Jacksons]], after a few of the band members had watched her while attending a Los Angeles Lakers game.<ref name=Abduldance2>{{cite news|title=Abdul's Dues: Paid a Lot of Them in 3 Years, But They Haven't Slowed Her Rise|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 21, 1991|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24470781.html?dids=24470781:24470781&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+21%2C+1991&author=Gary+Graff%2C+Knight-Ridder+Tribune+News.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Abdul's+dues+She+has+paid+a+lot+of+them+in+3+years%2C+but+they+haven't+slowed+her+rise&pqatl=google|access-date=May 3, 2009|author=Graff, Gary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107192703/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24470781.html?dids=24470781%3A24470781&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&date=Nov+21%2C+1991&author=Gary+Graff%2C+Knight-Ridder+Tribune+News.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Abdul%27s+dues+She+has+paid+a+lot+of+them+in+3+years%2C+but+they+haven%27t+slowed+her+rise&pqatl=google|archive-date=January 7, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> She was signed to do the choreography for the video to their single "[[Torture (The Jacksons song)|Torture]]".<ref name=LakerGirl>{{cite news|title=Abdul Delivers More Than the Same Old Song and Dance|newspaper=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=August 11, 1989|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7308787F670A3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128034432/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7308787F670A3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|archive-date=January 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LakerGirls"/> Abdul recalled feeling intimidated by having to tell the Jacksons how to dance, stating that she was "not quite sure how [she] got through that."<ref name=Abduldance>{{cite news|title=Paula Abdul Scores with New Singing Career and Debut Album|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 12, 1989|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66399719.html?dids=66399719:66399719&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+12%2C+1989&author=DENNIS+HUNT&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Ex-Laker+Girl+Slam-Dunks+Paula+Abdul+scores+with+new+singing+career+and+debut+album&pqatl=google|access-date=May 3, 2009|author=Hunt, Dennis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817091635/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66399719.html?dids=66399719:66399719&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+12%2C+1989&author=DENNIS+HUNT&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Ex-Laker+Girl+Slam-Dunks+Paula+Abdul+scores+with+new+singing+career+and+debut+album&pqatl=google|archive-date=August 17, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The success of the choreography in the video led to Abdul's career as choreographer of music videos, notably [[Janet Jackson]]'s "[[What Have You Done for Me Lately]]", "[[Nasty (Janet Jackson song)|Nasty]]", "[[When I Think of You (Janet Jackson song)|When I Think of You]]" and "[[Control (Janet Jackson song)|Control]]" videos.<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|title=Idol Scandal Could Hurt, Not Help, the Show|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=May 4, 2005|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2005-05-04-idol-primetime-reax_x.htm|access-date=May 3, 2009|author=Oldenburg, Ann|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820091749/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2005-05-04-idol-primetime-reax_x.htm|archive-date=August 20, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also due to the success of the video that Abdul was chosen to be the choreographer for the Jacksons' ''Victory'' tour.<ref name="Rollingstone" /><ref name=USAToday /> Abdul also choreographed sequences for the giant keyboard scene involving [[Tom Hanks]]'s character in ''[[Big (film)|Big]]'' (1988).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schneider|first1=Karen|last2=Gold|first2=Todd|title=A Brave New Song|volume=43|url=http://people.com/archive/cover-story-a-brave-new-song-vol-43-no-24/|work=People Magazine|issue=24|date=19 June 1995|page=88|access-date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030549/http://people.com/archive/cover-story-a-brave-new-song-vol-43-no-24/|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.paulaabdul.com/Paula.htm The Official Website of Paula Abdul] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228102911/http://www.paulaabdul.com/Paula.htm |date=February 28, 2009 }}. ''PaulaAbdul.com.'' Retrieved on February 24, 2008</ref>

===1987–1999: ''Forever Your Girl'', ''Spellbound'' and ''Head over Heels''===
[[File:Paula Abdul 1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Abdul at the 42nd Primetime Emmy Awards, 1990]]
In 1987, Abdul used her savings to make a singing demo.<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul Biography|url=http://www.metacritic.com/person/paula-abdul?filter-options=tv|website=metacritic.com| date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110142153/http://www.metacritic.com/person/paula-abdul?filter-options=tv|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Soon thereafter, she was signed to the newly formed [[Virgin Records#Virgin Records America|Virgin Records America]] by [[Jeff Ayeroff]], who had worked in marketing at [[A&M Records]] with Janet Jackson. Although she was a skilled dancer and choreographer, Abdul was a relatively untrained singer, and worked with various coaches and record producers to develop her vocal ability. She has a [[mezzo-soprano]] vocal range.<ref name="BuzzFeed">{{cite news |last1=Dominguez |first1=Pier |title=How "Forever Your Girl" Made Paula Abdul The Original Britney |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/pdominguez/paula-abdul-forever-your-girl-pop-princess |access-date=June 20, 2018 |publisher=[[BuzzFeed]] |date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618144422/https://www.buzzfeed.com/pdominguez/paula-abdul-forever-your-girl-pop-princess |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dance.lovetoknow.com/Dancer_Paula_Abdul|title=Dancer Paula Abdul|publisher=LoveToKnow Corp|work=LoveToKnow|first=Rachel|last=Hanson|access-date=20 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122071936/http://dance.lovetoknow.com/Dancer_Paula_Abdul|archive-date=January 22, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ayeroff recalled signing Abdul to a recording contract years later, stating: "She said, 'I can sing, you know. I want to do an album.' Paula's in our industry. Here's someone with a personality and she's gorgeous, and she can dance. If she can sing, she could be a star. So she went into the studio and cut a demo record and she could sing."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Carla |title=Paula Abdul, Soaring Straight Up |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1990/03/25/paula-abdul-soaring-straight-up/b11d0418-7754-4e56-84fb-000f5a215bff/ |access-date=June 21, 2018 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 25, 1990 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225553/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1990/03/25/paula-abdul-soaring-straight-up/b11d0418-7754-4e56-84fb-000f5a215bff/ |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Abdul's debut studio album, ''[[Forever Your Girl]]'' (1988), would become the most successful debut album in history at that time, reaching number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart after 64 weeks (where it would spend 10 weeks at number one), and set a record for the most singles from a debut album to reach number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in the United States, with four: "[[Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)|Straight Up]]", "[[Forever Your Girl (song)|Forever Your Girl]]", "[[Cold Hearted (Paula Abdul song)|Cold Hearted]]", and "[[Opposites Attract]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470364/the-longest-music-moments-ever|quote=Longest Climb to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 – She probably had no idea how appropriate her 1988 album title would be when she came up with it, but it took Paula Abdul's "Forever Your Girl" a total of 64 weeks—a year and three months—to go from entering the Billboard 200 to reaching No. 1.|title=The Longest Music Moments|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 3, 2012|author1=Alex Chapman|author2=Sarah Maloy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317134852/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470364/the-longest-music-moments-ever|archive-date=March 17, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/paula_abdul/0,,,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810020855/http://www.people.com/people/paula_abdul/0%2C%2C%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 10, 2007 |title=Celebrity Central – Paula Abdul |access-date=March 3, 2012 |magazine=[[People (American magazine)|People]] |quote=...Forever Your Girl stays at No. 1 on the Billboard chart for 10 weeks and sells seven million copies. |author1=Janet Mock |author2=Julia Wang }}</ref> The album was later certified 7× platinum by the RIAA. A remix album, ''[[Shut Up and Dance: Mixes]]'', was also released and reached number seven in the United States, becoming one of the most successful remix albums to date.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul overview|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/shut-up-and-dance-dance-mixes-mw0000655013|website=allmusic.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221650/https://www.allmusic.com/album/shut-up-and-dance-dance-mixes-mw0000655013|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[32nd Grammy Awards]], Abdul won her first Grammy for Best Music Video for "Opposites Attract".<ref name="www2.grammy.com">{{cite web |url=http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103192148/http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx |archive-date=January 3, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Some important information about MC Skat Kat|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/07/06/some-important-information-about-skat-kat/j9VPnUI5FwTl5CMeXdzl7M/story.html|website=bostonglobe.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019220247/https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/07/06/some-important-information-about-skat-kat/j9VPnUI5FwTl5CMeXdzl7M/story.html|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She was also nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]] for "Straight Up", but lost to [[Bonnie Raitt]]'s "[[Nick of Time (album)|Nick of Time]]".<ref name="www2.grammy.com"/> In 1991, singer Yvette Marine filed a lawsuit against Abdul and the Virgin label, alleging that it was her vocals that were used on several tracks from ''Forever Your Girl'', most notably "Opposites Attract".<ref name="BuzzFeed"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Philips|first1=Chuck|title=Did Abdul Get Assist? : A Backup Singer Sues Her Label, Charging Deception|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-04-09/entertainment/ca-188_1_paula-abdul|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 9, 1991 |access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009030306/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-04-09/entertainment/ca-188_1_paula-abdul|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|title=Singer Says Part of Voice on Hit Is Hers|work=The New York Times |date=April 10, 1991 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/10/arts/singer-says-part-of-voice-on-hit-is-hers.html|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902012542/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/10/arts/singer-says-part-of-voice-on-hit-is-hers.html|archive-date=2 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> A jury sided with Abdul and the label two years later in 1993, rejecting Marine's claim to credit and copyright compensation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Philips |first1=Chuck |title=Singer Loses Suit Over Paula Abdul Album : Music: Plaintiff said she was uncredited co-lead vocalist on parts of 1988 hit. But jury sides with Virgin Records. |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-13/local/me-23313_1_paula-abdul |access-date=June 20, 2018 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 13, 1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706025508/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-13/local/me-23313_1_paula-abdul |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n18_v84/ai_14330373 |title=Paula Abdul did lead on 'Forever Your Girl': jury&nbsp;– Brief Article |publisher=Findarticles.com |date=August 30, 1993 |access-date=July 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101145555/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n18_v84/ai_14330373/ |archive-date=January 1, 2011 }}</ref>

Abdul saw continued success with her second studio album ''[[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]]'' (1991), which saw two additional number-one singles: "[[Rush Rush (Paula Abdul song)|Rush Rush]]" and "[[The Promise of a New Day]]". A third single "[[Blowing Kisses in the Wind]]" reached number six for three consecutive weeks. ''Spellbound'' retained the [[dance-pop]] sound from ''Forever Your Girl'' and introduced elements of [[contemporary R&B|R&<span class="ltr">B</span>]], and sold 7 million copies worldwide.<ref name="BuzzFeed"/><ref>{{cite web|title=U|url=http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=U|website=princevault.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019222343/http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=U|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The music video for "Rush Rush" featured a ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]'' [[Motif (visual arts)|motif]], starring [[Keanu Reeves]] in the [[James Dean]] role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Abdul - Dancer and Choreographer |url=https://www.arabamerica.com/arabamericans/35437/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Arab America |language=en}}</ref> The album's other singles, "[[Vibeology]]" and "[[Will You Marry Me?]]", saw moderate success on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reaching the top 20.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName| artist=paula abdul|chart=all}}| title=Spellbound – Paula Abdul| magazine=Billboard.com|access-date=July 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Peter Lord: Songwriter Interviews|url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/peter_lord/|publisher=Songfacts.com|access-date=September 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014102811/http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/peter_lord/|archive-date=October 14, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, Abdul starred in a popular [[Diet Coke]] commercial in which she danced with a digital image of her idol, a young [[Gene Kelly]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marshall|first1=Kelli|title=Diet Coke Ad: Paula Abdul|url=http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/kellimarshall/clips/DietCoke_PaulaAbdul.mp4/view|website=criticalcommons.org|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019220255/http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/kellimarshall/clips/DietCoke_PaulaAbdul.mp4/view|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Abdul was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in December 1991.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g05QAAAAIBAJ&pg=6448,1936911&dq=paula+abdul+walk+of+fame&hl=en| title=Paula Abdul gets star on Hollywood Boulevard| date=1991-12-01| access-date=August 1, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216071307/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g05QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wVEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6448,1936911&dq=paula+abdul+walk+of+fame&hl=en| archive-date=December 16, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul promoted ''Spellbound'' through the [[Under My Spell Tour]], which was named by an MTV contest for fans.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Degregorio|first1=Erin|title=Paula Abdul's Not Missing A Beat While On First Tour In 25 Years|url=http://bust.com/music/193126-paula-abdul-returns-total-package-tour.html|website=bust.com|date=July 5, 2017|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020032444/http://bust.com/music/193126-paula-abdul-returns-total-package-tour.html|archive-date=20 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Under My Spell Live|url=http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/under_my_spell_live.php#*|website=paula-abdul.net|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020032526/http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/under_my_spell_live.php#*|archive-date=October 20, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The tour was nearly cancelled due to an accident during rehearsals, but began on schedule in October 1991 and concluded in August 1992.<ref name="auto"/>

After her initial period of professional success, Abdul's career entered a brief hiatus while she sought treatment for personal and physical issues.<ref name="BuzzFeed"/><ref name="YBR">{{cite web|last1=Boddington|first1=Shaye|title=The Paula Abdul Bulimia Battle. This brave woman's story...|url=http://www.your-bulimia-recovery.com/paula-abdul-bulimia.html|website=your-bulimia-recovery.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019220319/http://www.your-bulimia-recovery.com/paula-abdul-bulimia.html|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her third studio album, ''[[Head over Heels (Paula Abdul album)|Head over Heels]]'' (1995), retained both [[pop music|pop]] and R&B elements and saw moderate commercial success, peaking at number 18 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart in the United States and later becoming her lowest-selling release.<ref name="BuzzFeed"/> The lead single from ''Head over Heels'', "[[My Love Is for Real]]", featured a fusion of [[rhythm and blues|R&<span class="ltr">B</span>]] and traditional [[Middle Eastern music|Middle Eastern]] instruments, and was performed with Yemeni-Israeli singer [[Ofra Haza]]. Its accompanying ''[[Lawrence of Arabia (film)|Lawrence of Arabia]]''-inspired music video was played in theaters across the world as a prologue to the film ''[[Clueless (film)|Clueless]]''. The single performed well on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart, where it reached number one, and peaked at number 28 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. "[[Crazy Cool]]" and "[[Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up]]" served as the album's second and third singles. To date, ''Head over Heels'' has sold over 500,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="Head Over Heels">{{cite book|title=Billboard|date=15 July 1995|page=94|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xgsEAAAAMBAJ&q=paula+abdul+head+over+heels+500+000&pg=PA94|access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> In 1995, Abdul released a dance workout video entitled ''Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance!'' (re-released on DVD in 2003), a fast-paced, hip-hop style workout.<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web|title=Get Up and Dance! (1994)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276981/|website=imdb.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209040629/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276981/|archive-date=9 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1997, Abdul co-wrote a song called "[[Spinning Around]]" with record producer and composer [[Kara DioGuardi]], which was intended to be her comeback single from a new album, but the plan never materialized and the song was later given to [[Kylie Minogue]].<ref name="BuzzFeed"/><ref name="KAS">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Jeffrey |title=Paula Abdul Was Almost the Pop Princess of Her Era: Celebrating 30 Years of 'Forever Your Girl' |url=http://kellyalexandershow.com/paula-abdul-almost-pop-princess-era-celebrating-30-years-forever-girl/ |access-date=June 20, 2018 |publisher=The Kelly Alexander Show |date=June 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621070238/http://kellyalexandershow.com/paula-abdul-almost-pop-princess-era-celebrating-30-years-forever-girl/ |archive-date=June 21, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> That year, Abdul appeared in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television film ''[[Touched By Evil]]'', playing a businesswoman who discovers that her boyfriend is a serial rapist.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/336968/Touched-by-Evil/overview|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710193003/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/336968/Touched-by-Evil/overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2012|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hal Erickson|title=Touched By Evil, review summary|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)|access-date=February 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/paula_abdul/biography|title=Paula Abdul Biography|access-date=February 5, 2011|magazine=People.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207044743/http://www.people.com/people/paula_abdul/biography|archive-date=February 7, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1998, she released a second workout video called ''Cardio Dance'' (re-released on DVD in 2000).<ref>{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul: Cardio Dance (1998)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277225/|website=imdb.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209113643/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277225/|archive-date=9 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Thereafter, Abdul served as the choreographer for several film and theater productions, including the 1998 musical ''[[Reefer Madness (musical)|Reefer Madness]]'' and the cheerleading scenes in ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]'' (1999).

===2000–2009: ''American Idol'', ''Hey Paula'' and return to music===
In 2000, Virgin Records, with whom Abdul was already no longer affiliated,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Greatest Hits - Paula Abdul|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-greatest-hits-mw0000057571|website=allmusic.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221526/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-greatest-hits-mw0000057571|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> released the first of two compilation albums by Abdul, ''[[Paula Abdul: Greatest Hits]]''. Abdul co-produced the 2001 pilot for ''Skirts'', an [[MTV]] television series about a high school cheerleading squad; Abdul was also set to appear as the head coach. The pilot never aired.<ref>[http://www.reefermadness.org/critics/timeout_paula_092401.html Gone to Pot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719005838/http://www.reefermadness.org/critics/timeout_paula_092401.html |date=2011-07-19 }} (Paula Abdul interview), Gia Kourlas, ''[[Time Out New York]]'', September 2001</ref> In 2002, she began appearing as one of three judges on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] reality competition series ''[[American Idol]]'', where she won praise as a sympathetic and compassionate judge and mentor. She seemed especially kind compared to fellow judge [[Simon Cowell]], who was often blunt in his appraisals of the contestants' performances. When she realized that Cowell's over-the-top judging style was heartbreaking for many young contestants, Abdul was horrified and she considered leaving the series. Although their differences often resulted in heated on-air exchanges and confrontations, Cowell says he played a major role in convincing Abdul not to leave the series.<ref>Cowell, S (2003): ''I don't mean to be rude, but ...'', p. 116–117, Random House. {{ISBN|978-0-7679-1741-4}}</ref> While serving as a judge on ''American Idol'', Abdul accepted a second assignment as reporter for ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Credits|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paula-abdul/credits/196941/|website=tvguide.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707112619/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paula-abdul/credits/196941/|archive-date=7 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2005, Abdul launched a cheerleading/fitness/dance DVD series called ''Cardio Cheer,'' which is marketed to children and teenage girls involved with cheerleading and dance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul: Cardio Cheer (2005)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497954/|website=imdb.com|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209183203/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497954/|archive-date=9 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul also choreographed The King's touchdown celebration, as seen in a string of [[Burger King]] television commercials that aired during the 2005–06 NFL season.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> In 2006, Abdul appeared on the [[The X Factor (British series 3)|third series]] of [[The X Factor (British TV series)|''The X Factor'' UK]] as a guest judge during the auditions, sitting alongside judges Cowell, [[Sharon Osbourne]] and [[Louis Walsh]].

A second compilation album, ''[[Greatest Hits: Straight Up!]]'', was released in 2007 by the Virgin label, who also made all of Abdul's releases under their label available for [[Music download|digital download]] on [[iTunes]]. That year, [[Bravo (US TV channel)|Bravo]] began airing a reality television series centered around Abdul, ''[[Hey Paula (TV series)|Hey Paula]],'' which followed her through her day-to-day life.<ref name="BuzzFeed"/><ref name="KAS"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieweb.com/tv/news/78/16978.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115124148/http://www.movieweb.com/tv/news/78/16978.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2007 |title=On TV the week of June 27th, 2011 |publisher=MovieWeb.com |access-date=July 3, 2011 }}</ref> Abdul's behavior as depicted on the series was described as "erratic" by comedian [[Rosie O'Donnell]] and was criticized by audiences and critics, and ''Hey Paula'' was cancelled after a single season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Snow|first=Jess|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272615124.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224106/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272615124.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2007|title=Rosie O'Donnell in Reruns: Slams American Idol Judge Paula Abdul Again|publisher=National Ledger|date=July 31, 2007|access-date=July 3, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Paula Abdul 2007.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Abdul at the [[Los Angeles Fashion Week]] at Smashbox Studios in March 2007]]

In 2007, Paula Abdul Jewelry launched its nationwide consumer debut on [[QVC]], with the tagline "fashion jewelry designed with heart and soul."<ref name="QVC1">[http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.html/params.file.jwjw_paula_shop.html/left.html.file.jwview_all.html/walk.yah.1001ref=GJE&cm_ven=GOOGLEPAID&cm_cat=JEWELRY&cm_pla=PAULAJEWELRY&cm_ite=PAULA_ABDUL_JEWELRY] {{Dead link|date=November 2015}}</ref> Abdul's first QVC appearance resulted in 15 sellouts of her first jewelry collection involving more than 34,000 pieces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guyotbrothers.com/jewelry-industy-news/paula-abdul-jewelry-sells-out.htm |title=Paula Abdul Jewelry Sells Out &#124; Paula Abdul Jewelry a QVC Smash Hit |publisher=Guyotbrothers.com |date=April 24, 2006 |access-date=July 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722073303/http://www.guyotbrothers.com/jewelry-industy-news/paula-abdul-jewelry-sells-out.htm |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}</ref> In 2008, Abdul returned to music charts for the first time in nearly thirteen years with the single "[[Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (song)|Dance Like There's No Tomorrow]]", the first track on the album ''[[Randy Jackson]]'s Music Club Vol. 1''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dance Like There's No Tomorrow|url=http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/dance_like_there-s_no_tomorrow.php|website=paula-abdul.net|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019220302/http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/dance_like_there-s_no_tomorrow.php|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song debuted on ''[[On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)|On Air with Ryan Seacrest]]'',<ref>[https://people.com/celebrity/paula-randy-ryan-unveil-her-new-single/ Paula, Randy & Ryan Unveil Her New Single] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204230744/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20172619,00.html |date=2009-02-04 }} Retrieved January 18, 2008</ref> and Abdul performed it during the pre-game show for [[Super Bowl XLII]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580867/american-idol-recap-paula-abdul-super-bowl-edition.jhtml|title='American Idol' Recap, Super Bowl Edition: Paula Abdul Defies Expectations with Pregame Show|access-date=February 5, 2011|publisher=MTV|date=February 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210115016/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580867/american-idol-recap-paula-abdul-super-bowl-edition.jhtml|archive-date=February 10, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" was a modest comeback hit for Abdul, peaking at number 62 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number 2 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart. The moderate success led to reports of Abdul beginning work on a new album, but this never materialized.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paula-abdul-confirms-new-album-tour-are-in-the-works-97107/|title=Paula Abdul Confirms New Album, Tour Are in the Works|access-date=February 29, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619063523/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/02/21/paula-abdul-confirms-new-album-tour-are-in-the-works/|archive-date=June 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046329/paula-abdul-plotting-comeback-album|title=Paula Abdul Plotting Comeback Album|access-date=June 11, 2008|magazine=Billboard.com|date=March 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622172735/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046329/paula-abdul-plotting-comeback-album|archive-date=June 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul also made a brief guest appearance on an episode of the British television series ''[[Hotel Babylon (BBC series)|Hotel Babylon]]'', which aired in the United Kingdom in February 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guest artist profiles|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/02_february/08/babylon_guest.shtml|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204101416/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/02_february/08/babylon_guest.shtml|archive-date=4 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2009, Abdul hosted "RAH!," a cheerleading competition on [[MTV]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Year in Television, 2009: A Catalog of New and Continuing Series, Miniseries, Specials and TV Movies|date=Aug 30, 2010|publisher=McFarland|page=137|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GoKJZanh6TsC&q=paula+abdul+rah&pg=PA137|access-date=19 October 2017|isbn=9780786456444}}</ref> "RAH!" featured five collegiate squads competing in a series of challenges with Abdul crowning one the winner.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/rah/series.jhtml#bio Paula Abdul's Rah! Cheerleading Bowl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114202618/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/rah/series.jhtml#bio |date=2009-01-14 }}, retrieved January 13, 2009.</ref> In May 2009, Abdul debuted her latest original song to date, "[[I'm Just Here for the Music]]" (originally an unreleased song from [[Kylie Minogue]]'s ninth album ''[[Body Language (Kylie Minogue album)|Body Language]]'') on the [[Ryan Seacrest]] Radio [[KIIS-FM]] show and performed the single on the ''American Idol''. "I'm Just Here for the Music" reached number 87 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming Abdul's fifteenth song to appear on the chart.<ref>[http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1611481/20090515/abdul_paula.jhtml]{{dead link|date=November 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} May 15, 2009, VH1.com</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Trust|first=Gary|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-abdul-idUSTRE54E06J20090515?sp=true|title=&#124;Idol judge Paula Abdul back on singles chart|date=May 15, 2009|publisher=Reuters.com|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619112659/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/05/15/us-abdul-idUSTRE54E06J20090515?sp=true|archive-date=June 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' in July 2009, Abdul's manager [[David Sonenberg]] told the newspaper that, "Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back on ''Idol''."<ref>[https://www.accessonline.com/articles/manager-paula-abdul-hurt-angry-may-not-return-to-idol-73955 Manager: Paula Abdul 'Hurt,' 'Angry,' May Not Return To 'Idol'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720200010/http://www.accesshollywood.com/manager-paula-abdul-hurt-angry-may-not-return-to-idol_article_20747 |date=2009-07-20 }}, retrieved February 29, 2020.</ref> This came about as a result of stalled negotiations between Abdul and the series. In August, after numerous contract negotiations, Abdul confirmed that she would not return to ''Idol'' for its ninth season.<ref>[https://www.eonline.com/news/137736/paula-abdul-i-ve-decided-not-to-return-to-idol Paula Abdul: "I've Decided Not to Return to Idol"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806135800/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b137736_paula_abdul_ive_decided_not_return_idol.html |date=2009-08-06 }}, retrieved February 29, 2020.</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' cited reports Abdul had been earning as much as $5 million per season and that she was reportedly seeking as much as $20 million to return.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bone|first=James|title=Paula Abdul quits American Idol|newspaper=The Times|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6739864.ece|date=August 5, 2009|access-date=August 5, 2009|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615175040/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6739864.ece|archive-date=June 15, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul was replaced by [[Ellen DeGeneres]]. Abdul claimed her departure from ''Idol'' was not about money, but that she had to stand on principle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/paula-abdul-says-leaving-idol-wasnt-about-money/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902151025/http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/08/31/paula-abdul-says-leaving-idol-wasnt-about-money/|archive-date=September 2, 2009|url-status=live|title=Paula Abdul Says Leaving Idol Wasn't About Money |publisher=People |date=August 31, 2009 |access-date=July 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/paula-abdul-negotiating-return-idol-wbna32451728|title=Paula Abdul negotiating a return to 'Idol'|publisher=Today.com|date=August 17, 2009|access-date=July 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/08/paula-abdul-is-busy-planning-her-future----and-right-now-american-idol-is-not-a-part-of-it-----in-his-first-interview-since.html|title=Exclusive: Paula Abdul's manager: "There have been no discussions whatsoever about 'Idol'"|publisher=Latimesblogs.latimes.com|date=August 19, 2009|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709000406/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/08/paula-abdul-is-busy-planning-her-future----and-right-now-american-idol-is-not-a-part-of-it-----in-his-first-interview-since.html|archive-date=July 9, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2010–2015: ''Live to Dance'', ''The X Factor'' and ''So You Think You Can Dance''===
In January 2010, Abdul presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to choreographer [[Julie McDonald (agent)|Julie McDonald]] at the 11th Anniversary show of [[The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dance Plug|title=Carnival Choreographer's Ball 11th Anniversary|url=http://www.dancebloggers.com/2010/02/carnival-choreographers-ball-11th-anniversary/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905024031/http://www.dancebloggers.com/2010/02/carnival-choreographers-ball-11th-anniversary/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-05|publisher=Dance Bloggers|access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> In November, Abdul launched and co-founded AuditionBooth.com, a website that allows aspiring talents to connect with casting directors, producers, and managers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditionbooth.com/WhatWeDo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128020834/http://www.auditionbooth.com/WhatWeDo |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 28, 2010 |title=What We Do at Audition Booth web site |publisher=Auditionbooth.com |access-date=July 3, 2011 }}</ref>
[[File:Paula Abdul February 9, 2011.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Abdul on the set of ''[[Live to Dance]]'' in 2011]]
In January 2011, Abdul began appearing on the short-lived [[CBS]] reality competition series ''[[Live to Dance]]'', where she was also an executive producer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/paula-abdul-lands-new-tv-gig-2010245|title=Paula Abdul Lands a New TV Gig!|publisher=UsMagazine.com|access-date=2010-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527102234/http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/paula-abdul-lands-new-tv-gig-2010245|archive-date=2010-05-27|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul said that unlike ''American Idol'', ''Live to Dance'' is less about "competition" and more about "celebration".<ref>[https://archive.today/20130205135944/http://www.usaweekend.com/article/20110204/ENTERTAINMENT05/102060311/Paula-Abdul-takes-on-her-extended-family-and-American-Idol "Paula Abdul takes on her 'extended family' and American Idol"] February 6, 2011, USA Weekend</ref> After its first season of seven episodes, it was cancelled by CBS.<ref>[http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/02/exclusive-paula-abdul-devastated-after-being-told-show-cancelled] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715145321/http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/02/exclusive-paula-abdul-devastated-after-being-told-show-cancelled|date=2011-07-15}} Live To Dance canceled, Retrieved February 15, 2011</ref> In May 2011, it was announced that Abdul would rejoin Cowell on the first season of the American edition of ''[[The X Factor (U.S.)|The X Factor]]''.<ref name="XFactor">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/paula-abdul-closes-deal-join-186371|title=Paula Abdul Closes Deal to Join Simon Cowell as 'X Factor' Judge|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last=Beloni|first=Matthew|date=May 8, 2011|access-date=May 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509025625/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/paula-abdul-closes-deal-join-186371|archive-date=May 9, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2012, Abdul announced that she would not return as a judge for the series' [[The X Factor (American season 2)|second season]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/01/31/paula-abdul-x-factor/|title=Paula Abdul confirms 'X Factor' exit|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830045539/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/01/31/paula-abdul-x-factor/|archive-date=30 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/01/30/nicole-scherzinger/|title='X Factor' shake-up: Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger out|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217050607/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/01/30/nicole-scherzinger/|archive-date=17 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul was replaced by [[Britney Spears]]. In October 2012, Abdul served as a guest judge during week four of the ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 15)|All-Stars version]]'' of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/08/paula-abdul-to-guest-judge-on-dancing-with-the-stars/|title=Paula Abdul to guest judge on 'Dancing with the Stars'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Lynette|last=Rice|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225525/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/10/08/paula-abdul-to-guest-judge-on-dancing-with-the-stars/|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2013, Abdul appeared on the Top 5 results show of [[American Idol season 12|season 12]] of ''American Idol'' to compliment contestant [[Candice Glover]] on her performance of "Straight Up".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-recap-paula-abdul-442298 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Erin | last=Carlson | title='American Idol' Recap: Paula Abdul Makes Triumphant Return; Another Finalist Bites the Dust | date=April 18, 2013 | access-date=April 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421050919/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-recap-paula-abdul-442298 | archive-date=April 21, 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 9, 2013, Abdul was a guest judge on ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (U.S.)|So You Think You Can Dance]]'' ([[So You Think You Can Dance (American season 10)|season ten]]).<ref>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/08/paula-abdul-to-guest-judge-on-so-you-think-you-can-dance-tomorrow-tuesday-july-9-on-fox/190839/ Paula Abdul to Guest-Judge on 'So You Think You Can Dance' Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 9, on FOX] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714010756/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/08/paula-abdul-to-guest-judge-on-so-you-think-you-can-dance-tomorrow-tuesday-july-9-on-fox/190839/ |date=July 14, 2013 }} TV By the Numbers, Retrieved July 8, 2013</ref>  In October 2013, Abdul was named as a judge on the revamped ''[[So You Think You Can Dance Australia]]'', which aired on Australia's [[Network Ten]] from February 9 through May 1, 2014.  Abdul was present as a permanent member of the judge's panel for all episodes of this season. She later became a permanent judge of the American version starting with its twelfth season.<ref>[http://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/22/paula-abdul-jason-derulo-join-so-you-think-you-can-dance-as-judges Paula Abdul, Jason Derulo join 'So You Think You Can Dance' as judges] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509045331/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/22/paula-abdul-jason-derulo-join-so-you-think-you-can-dance-as-judges |date=2015-05-09 }} Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved June 2, 2015</ref> In January 2017, Abdul announced that she would not be returning as a judge for its fourteenth season because of her tour schedule.<ref>[https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/so-you-think-you-can-dance-renewed-season-14-fox-1201973308/ ‘So You Think You Can Dance' Renewed for Season 14 at Fox, Paula Abdul Not Returning as Judge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910201338/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/so-you-think-you-can-dance-renewed-season-14-fox-1201973308/ |date=2017-09-10 }} Variety, Retrieved January 30, 2017</ref>

In April 2014, Abdul was a guest judge on ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]'' (episode "[[Queens of Talk]]"), which reunited her with previous ''Idol'' contestant [[Adore Delano]]. In June 2014, Abdul made a cameo appearance on the Australian soap opera ''[[Neighbours]]'' and shared scenes with established character [[Karl Kennedy]] ([[Alan Fletcher (actor)|Alan Fletcher]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul films Neighbours cameo: Who's 'Knocked Out' by popstar?|url=http://www.digitalspy.com.au/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a579219/paula-abdul-films-neighbours-cameo-whos-knocked-out-by-popstar.html|last=Dainty|first=Sophie|work=[[Digital Spy]]|date=June 20, 2014|access-date=June 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622040737/http://www.digitalspy.com.au/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a579219/paula-abdul-films-neighbours-cameo-whos-knocked-out-by-popstar.html|archive-date=June 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, Abdul made a guest appearance on the comedy sitcom ''[[Real Husbands of Hollywood]]'' on its season 4 premiere. She was shown in a comedic scene with [[Arsenio Hall]] where she was trying to kick Hall out of her pool house. On November 16, 2015, Abdul along with [[Charles Klapow|Charles "Chucky" Klapow]], Renee Richie, and [[Nakul Dev Mahajan]] won the World Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography Digital Format for the video 'Check Yourself'. On November 22, 2015, Abdul and [[Donnie Wahlberg]] presented Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock at the [[American Music Awards of 2015|43rd American Music Awards]]; the award Abdul won at the 1990 AMAs, presented to her by Wahlberg.

===2016–present: Return to performing, Las Vegas residency===
On August 6, 2016, Abdul performed a full headline set for the first time in 26 years at the Mixtape Festival in [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wzzm13.com/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/exclusive-paula-abdul-on-performing-her-hits-in-concert-for-the-first-time-in-26-years-it-was/291156456|title=EXCLUSIVE: Paula Abdul on Performing Her Hits in Concert for the First Time in 26 Years: 'It Was|website=Wzzm13.com|access-date=30 January 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In November 2016, [[New Kids on the Block]] announced that Abdul would be touring with them and [[Boyz II Men]] on their [[Total Package Tour]] in 2017; her first tour in 25 years.<ref name="Total Package">{{cite magazine |last1=Billboard |title=NKOTB Announce 'Total Package' Tour with Boyz II Men, Paula Abdul |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7580296/nkotb-total-package-tour-boyz-ii-men-paula-abdul |access-date=June 23, 2018 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624073308/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7580296/nkotb-total-package-tour-boyz-ii-men-paula-abdul |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The tour began on May 12 in [[Columbus, Ohio]], and concluded on July 16, 2017, in [[Hollywood, Florida]], for a total of 47 shows.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nkotb.com/events |title=Events : New Kids on the Block |access-date=2015-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315010604/http://nkotb.com/events/ |archive-date=2015-03-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore/|title=Billboard Boxscore :: Current Scores|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525190629/http://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore/|archive-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'' magazine, Abdul stated there were "many reasons" she decided to return to the stage after over two decades, saying: "I took a long break and had sustained some injuries in the past. Then I returned to television with ''American Idol'' and that took up a good decade of my life. Then I went out to do some more television, as well. I always wanted to get back on stage, because I missed it. I wanted to get back in close contact with the people who have supported me all throughout my career and be able to see them again. Plus, I was getting asked all the time if I would ever do it again! I finally said, You know what, I want to and I'm going to make it a priority. I'm really passionate about it and it's fun, and I want to connect with my fans around the country."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Locker |first1=Melissa |title=Paula Abdul on Whether She'd Ever Return to American Idol, Touring With NKOTB, and Her Obsession With Scandal |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/music/news/a45355/paula-abdul-tour/ |access-date=June 23, 2018 |magazine=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] |date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623222115/https://www.elle.com/culture/music/news/a45355/paula-abdul-tour/ |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2018, Abdul announced that she would embark on a solo headlining tour across North America that fall, entitled [[Straight Up Paula!]], as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of her debut studio album ''Forever Your Girl''.<ref name="San Diego">{{cite news |last1=Varga |first1=George |title=Paula Abdul to kick off 30th anniversary 'Straight Up Paula!' tour in October |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sd-me-music-paula-abdul-tour-20180709-story.html |access-date=July 19, 2018 |newspaper=[[San Diego Union Tribune]] |date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233314/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sd-me-music-paula-abdul-tour-20180709-story.html |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Seemayer |first1=Zach |title=Paula Abdul's Back on Tour -- Here Are Some of Her on-the-Road Must-Haves! (Exclusive) |url=https://www.etonline.com/paula-abduls-back-on-tour-here-are-some-of-her-on-the-road-must-haves-exclusive-105731 |access-date=July 19, 2018 |publisher=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233544/https://www.etonline.com/paula-abduls-back-on-tour-here-are-some-of-her-on-the-road-must-haves-exclusive-105731 |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The tour began in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], on October 18 and concluded in [[Los Angeles, California]], on June 7, 2019, for a total of 25 shows.<ref name="San Diego"/>

Abdul performed a medley of her greatest hits at the [[2019 Billboard Music Awards|2019 ''Billboard'' Music Awards]], closing out the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accessonline.com/articles/paula-abdul-will-close-out-the-2019-billboard-music-awards-with-6-minute-medley-exclusive|title=Paula Abdul Will Close Out The 2019 Billboard Music Awards With 6-Minute Medley! (Exclusive)|work=Access Hollywood|access-date=May 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430233814/https://www.accessonline.com/articles/paula-abdul-will-close-out-the-2019-billboard-music-awards-with-6-minute-medley-exclusive|archive-date=April 30, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> On May 1, 2019, Abdul announced her first [[Las Vegas]] [[Concert residency|residency]], [[Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl]]. The residency's first leg began on August 13, the first of 20 dates, ending in January 2020.<ref name="residency">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8509517/paula-abdul-launch-las-vegas-residency-forever-your-girl|title=Paula Abdul to Launch Las Vegas Residency In August: Exclusive|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501171648/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8509517/paula-abdul-launch-las-vegas-residency-forever-your-girl|archive-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 7, 2019, Abdul opened [[Los Angeles Pride|LA Pride]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/paula-abdul-to-open-la-pride-weekend-with-a-free-outdoor-concert-exclusive-124309|title=Paula Abdul to Open LA Pride Weekend With a Free Outdoor Concert (Exclusive)|work=Entertainment Tonight|access-date=May 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501000558/https://www.etonline.com/paula-abdul-to-open-la-pride-weekend-with-a-free-outdoor-concert-exclusive-124309|archive-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Abdul also performed at the [[America's Got Talent season 14|fourteenth series]] finale of ''[[America's Got Talent]]'' with Light Balance Kids, Brian King Joseph, and Tyler Butler-Figueroa to surprise Cowell. In October 2020, it was announced that Abdul would serve as a panelist for Fox's reality competition, ''[[The Masked Dancer (American TV series)|The Masked Dancer]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/the-masked-singer-spinoff-masked-dancer-finds-host-and-celebrity-panelists-155523|title='The Masked Singer' Spinoff 'Masked Dancer' Finds Host and Celebrity Panelists|work=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|date=October 28, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref> In April 2021, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] announced that Abdul would return to ''American Idol'' as a guest-judge while [[Luke Bryan]] was out sick after being diagnosed with [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/american-idol-paula-abdul-guest-judge-luke-bryan-covid/|title='Paula Abdul returning to American Idol as guest judge while Luke Bryan recovers from COVID|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=April 12, 2021|access-date=April 12, 2021}}</ref> She returned as a guest judge on ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' for Music Video Night in its [[Dancing with the Stars (American season 32)|32nd season]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.dgepress.com/abc/pressrelease/dancing-with-the-stars-hits-play-on-music-video-night-nov-7/|title=''Dancing with the Stars'' Hits Play on 'Music Video Night' Nov. 7|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|via=[[Disney General Entertainment Content Press]]|date=November 2, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref> In 2023, Abdul joined the producing team of the Broadway musical ''[[How to Dance in Ohio (musical)|How to Dance in Ohio]]''.<ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ludacris-and-Paula-Abdul-Join-HOW-TO-DANCE-IN-OHIO-Producing-Team-20231207 Ludacris and Paula Abdul Join HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO Producing Team] Broadway World, December 7, 2023</ref> She also appeared as a contestant on ''[[Celebrity Wheel of Fortune]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/paula-abdul-celebrity-wheel-of-fortune-scream-exclusive-video-1235556084/|title=Watch Paula Abdul Lose It Over a 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Puzzle|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=December 13, 2023|access-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==

=== Relationships ===
Abdul married actor [[Emilio Estevez]] in 1992, and filed for divorce in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/chatter-vol-39-no-5/|title=Chatter|last=Cunningham|first=Kim|date=February 8, 1993|work=[[People (American magazine)|People]]|access-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109215158/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20109752,00.html|archive-date=January 9, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-suddenly-single-vol-42-no-9/|title=Suddenly Single|last=Glick|first=Elizabeth|date=August 29, 1994|work=[[People (American magazine)|People]]|access-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110164207/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20186997,00.html|archive-date=January 10, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1995, Abdul stated that the reason for their divorce was that she wanted children and Estevez, who had two children from a previous relationship, did not.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1998/04/24/paula-abdul-and-emilio-estevez-together-forever/|title=Paula Abdul and Emilio Estevez together forever?|first=Michael|last=Sauter|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=April 24, 1998|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> Abdul married clothing designer Brad Beckerman in 1996, at the New England Carousel Museum in [[Bristol, Connecticut]]. They filed for divorce in 1998, after 17 months of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/36074/paula-abdul-splits-from-hubby|title=Paula Abdul Splits from Hubby|last=Errico|first=Marcus|date=March 10, 1998|website=[[E! Online]]|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923051329/http://www.eonline.com/news/36074/paula-abdul-splits-from-hubby|archive-date=September 23, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Beliefs ===
Abdul is observant in her Jewish faith,<ref>{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yYrLwO0cIk |title=Paula Abdul... "a good Jewish girl." |date=2007 |medium=YouTube video |publisher=Gershon Veroba |location=Bel Air, California |access-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101145050/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yYrLwO0cIk |archive-date=2016-01-01 |url-status=live |people=Gershon Veroba}}</ref> and is proud of her heritage. She once stated, "My father is a Syrian Jew whose family immigrated to Brazil. My mother is Canadian with Jewish roots. My dream is to go to Israel for a real holiday." In November 2006, when Israeli Tourism Minister [[Isaac Herzog]] invited her to Israel, Abdul responded with a hug, adding, "I will come; you have helped me make a dream come true."<ref>{{cite news |date=November 17, 2006 |title=Israeli minister, American Idol |work=YNET News |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309184857/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html |archive-date=March 9, 2009}}</ref> In 2013, at the age of 51, Abdul had her [[bat mitzvah]] in Safed, Israel, at the [[International Center for Tzfat Kabbalah]],<ref>{{cite news |date=November 5, 2013 |title=Paula Abdul Celebrates Bat Mitzvah In Safed, Israel Known For kabbalah |work= [[Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/paula-abdul-bat-mitzvah-video-israel_n_4226165.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111121440/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/paula-abdul-bat-mitzvah-video-israel_n_4226165.html |archive-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref> a museum and spiritual retreat for the study of [[Kabbalah]] – Jewish mysticism.  In 2003, Abdul was reported as a practitioner of [[Transcendental Meditation technique|Transcendental Meditation]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Cooke de Herrera |first=Nancy |title=All You Need Is Love: An Eyewitness Account of When Spirituality Spread from the East to the West |publisher=Joodere Group |year=2003 |location=San Diego |page=438}}</ref>

Abdul is a dog lover who raised awareness about [[National Guide Dog Month]] in May 2009, and she teamed up with [[Dick Van Patten]] to help people with blindness to have more independence through the help of guide dogs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=E. |date=May 7, 2009 |title=Paula Abdul & Guide Dogs |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/filmhound/archives/168170.asp?from=blog_last3 |url-status=live |access-date=May 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816165145/http://blog.seattlepi.com/filmhound/archives/168170.asp?from=blog_last3 |archive-date=August 16, 2010}}</ref> She does not wear real fur.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 29, 2011 |title=Paula Abdul's faux fur vest |url=http://thegloss.com/culture/paula-abduls-faux-fur-vest/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916104436/http://www.thegloss.com/culture/paula-abduls-faux-fur-vest/ |archive-date=2018-09-16 |access-date=2011-05-29 |website=The Gloss }}</ref>

=== Health ===
Abdul has said that she was injured in a plane crash in 1992 during her [[Under My Spell Tour]], necessitating 15 [[cervical spine|cervical]] surgeries. When, in 2020, some gossip sites, including ''[[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]'', questioned the veracity of this, Abdul responded during an interview with [[Yahoo!|Yahoo Entertainment]], stating "You know what? It's like, there are seven other people that were on the plane, who were in that plane accident with me. So, I really don't care what people have to say. I don't."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Lyndsey |title=Paula Abdul opens up about mysterious 1992 plane crash: 'I didn't want to talk too much about it{{'-}} |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/paula-abdul-opens-up-about-mysterious-1993-plane-crash-i-didnt-want-to-talk-too-much-about-it-182841961.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAG5nI4z1A8bvrZLtA5BZJ02k4hu_ZxE_aR-FMzpcJdPMS_j28A-lFk9IjILz9PfXY5cfJiPi6kbS7rIbMHn6RIo4LLtl18pI0XwKG8fn2kcf334hXHuDWofLegRmEbAa1zxH78IRuIOCTf5xyd-5z1tyG1NtzmZyAb-a9Tm8vVVK |access-date=28 September 2020 |website=Yahoo! Entertainment |date=March 11, 2020 |publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref>{{importance inline|date=December 2022}}

In 1994, Abdul sought treatment for [[bulimia nervosa]], which she revealed years later she first developed as a teenager and only intensified after she became a pop star. She said: "I learned at a very early age I didn't fit in physically. I learned through years of rejections from auditions. I would ask myself, 'Why can't I be tall and skinny like the other dancers?' I felt nervous and out of control, and all I could think about was food. Food numbed the fear and anxiety. I'd eat and then run to the bathroom."<ref name="YBR" />

In 2005, Abdul said she had been diagnosed in November 2004 with a neurological disorder causing chronic pain, [[Complex regional pain syndrome|reflex sympathetic dystrophy]] (RSD), following a "cheerleading accident" at age 17.<ref name="USAT">{{cite news |date=April 20, 2005 |title=Abdul says odd behavior not drug-related |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-04-20-paula-abdul_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=April 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219100216/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-04-20-paula-abdul_x.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2006}}</ref> She discussed the diagnosis in response to allegations of drug use.<ref name="USAT" />

In April 2006, Abdul filed a report at a Hollywood police station stating she had been a victim of battery at a private party at about 1 am on April 2, according to LAPD spokesman Lt. Paul Vernon.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 7, 2006 |title=Paula Abdul tells police she was assaulted at LA party |work=Augusta Chronicle |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/things-do/2006-04-07/paula-abdul-tells-police-she-was-assaulted-la-party |url-status=live |access-date=19 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019220909/http://chronicle.augusta.com/things-do/2006-04-07/paula-abdul-tells-police-she-was-assaulted-la-party |archive-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> "According to Abdul, the man at the party argued with her, grabbed her by the arm and threw her against a wall," Vernon said. "She said she had sustained a concussion and spinal injuries."<ref>{{cite news |date=April 6, 2006 |title=Paula Abdul Tells Police She Was Assaulted |work=MTV |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1528105/paula-abdul-tells-police-she-was-assaulted-at-party/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229061002/http://www.mtv.com/news/1528105/paula-abdul-tells-police-she-was-assaulted-at-party/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref>

==== Allegations of drug use ====
Substance abuse allegations arose as the result of what some described as "erratic behavior"<ref name="USAT" /> by Abdul during episodes of ''American Idol.'' After reading these allegations on message boards, Abdul told ''[[People (American magazine)|People]]'' in April 2005 about her RSD diagnosis; she added that she was pain-free following treatment with [[anti-inflammatory]] medication.<ref name="USAT" /> Allegations arose again in January 2007 when videos circulated on the Internet of Abdul appearing to sway in her chair and slur her speech during a set of interviews.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |date=January 15, 2007 |title=Paula Abdul seen slurring in TV interview |work=Today.com |agency=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/paula-abdul-seen-slurring-tv-interview-wbna16611216 |access-date=April 9, 2007}}</ref> Abdul's publicist attributed this to fatigue and technical difficulties during the recording of the interviews.<ref name="Reuters" /> It was revealed on the Bravo show ''Hey Paula'', which had followed Abdul with a video camera prior to the interviews, that Abdul had not been sleeping, perhaps suffering from some mild form of [[insomnia]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Andy Dehnart |author-link=Andy Dehnart |date=June 29, 2007 |title=Paula Abdul's loopy TV interviews blamed on exhaustion, insomnia, the flu, audio problems |url=http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/hey_paula/2007_Jun_29_breakdown_episode |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014053/http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/hey_paula/2007_Jun_29_breakdown_episode |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |website=Reality Blurred}}</ref> In February 2007, Abdul told ''[[Us Weekly]]'' that she had never been drunk or used illegal drugs, and called the allegations "lies".<ref>{{cite news |date=February 13, 2007 |title=Paula Abdul claims she's 'squeaky clean' |work=Today.com |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/paula-abdul-claims-she-s-squeaky-clean-wbna17138450 |url-status=live |access-date=February 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214102108/http://www.today.com/popculture/paula-abdul-claims-she-s-squeaky-clean-wbna17138450 |archive-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref>

In May 2009, ''[[Ladies' Home Journal]]'' posted an article on its website that said that Abdul told them she stayed at the [[Omni La Costa Resort and Spa|La Costa Resort and Spa]] in [[Carlsbad, California]], for three days the previous year to recover from [[physical dependence]] on prescription pain medications.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 8, 2009 |title=Paula Abdul: No Painkillers, No Rehab |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/122701/paula-abdul-no-painkillers-no-rehab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130205144/http://www.eonline.com/news/122701/paula-abdul-no-painkillers-no-rehab |archive-date=30 January 2018 |access-date=30 January 2018 |website=E! Online}}</ref><ref name="med">{{cite news |date=5 May 2009 |title=Paula Abdul Reveals Struggle with Prescription Painkillers |work=[[People (American magazine)|People]] |url=https://people.com/celebrity/paula-abdul-reveals-struggle-with-prescription-painkillers/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507183507/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20276698,00.html |archive-date=7 May 2009}}</ref> The medications, prescribed due to injuries and her RSD diagnosis, included a pain patch, nerve medication, and a muscle relaxant. According to the article, Abdul said the medications made her "get weird" at times and that she suffered from physical [[Drug withdrawal|withdrawal]] symptoms during her recovery.<ref name="med" /> Later that same week, in an interview with Detroit radio station [[WKQI]], Abdul rejected the article's accuracy. She told the radio station she never checked into a rehab clinic and never had a drug abuse problem.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paula Abdul Denies Report She Abused Painkillers; Magazine Stands by Story |url=http://www.tvguide.com/American-Idol/Paula-Abdul-Denies-1005889.aspx?imw=Y |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128175649/http://www.tvguide.com/American-Idol/Paula-Abdul-Denies-1005889.aspx?imw=Y |archive-date=January 28, 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2009 |website=TVGuide.com}}</ref>

=== 2004 car crash ===
In December 2004, Abdul was driving her [[Mercedes-Benz]] on a Los Angeles-area freeway when she changed lanes and hit another vehicle, but did not stop or render assistance.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 March 2005 |title=Abdul sentenced for traffic accident |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2005/mar/26/entertainment/et-quick26.3 |access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> The driver and passenger took a photograph with a cell phone camera and wrote down the license plate number of the car, which was traced to Abdul. In March 2005, Abdul was fined US$900 and given 24 months of informal [[probation]] after pleading ''[[nolo contendere]]'' (no contest) to [[misdemeanor]] [[Hit and run (vehicular)|hit-and-run]] driving. She was ordered to pay US$775 for damage to the other car.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 24, 2005 |title='Idol' Judge Fined For Hit-And-Run |work=CBS News |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/24/entertainment/main683012.shtml |url-status=live |access-date=February 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203175443/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/24/entertainment/main683012.shtml |archive-date=February 3, 2007}}</ref>

=== 2005 accusations by Corey Clark ===
In May 2005, ABC's ''[[Primetime Live]]'' reported claims by season 2 ''American Idol'' contestant [[Corey Clark]] that he and Abdul had had an affair during that season, and that she had coached him on how to succeed in the competition.<ref name="mtv cc">{{cite web |title=Corey Clark Says Paula 'Told Me She Loved Me' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1501446/corey-clark-says-paula-abdul-told-me-she-loved-me/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019215703/http://www.mtv.com/news/1501446/corey-clark-says-paula-abdul-told-me-she-loved-me/ |archive-date=19 October 2017 |access-date=19 October 2017 |website=MTV News}}</ref> Some considered Clark's timing suspicious as he was marketing a CD and trying to get a book deal, but Clark said that his career was being prejudiced because of his relationship with Abdul, and that is why he came forward with the information to clear his name.<ref name="mtv cc" />

For the most part, Abdul refused to comment on Clark's allegations. [[Simon Cowell]] came to Abdul's defense,<ref>{{cite web |date=10 January 2007 |title=Paula Abdul: Simon Saved Me! |url=http://www.extratv.com/2007/01/10/paula-abdul-simon-saved-me/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031053656/http://extratv.com/2007/01/10/paula-abdul-simon-saved-me/ |archive-date=31 October 2015 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |work=The Extra! TV Web site, Celebrity Highlights section |publisher=Time Telepictures Productions, distributed by Warner Bros}}</ref> stating, "It was just somebody using her to get a lot of publicity for an appalling record, full stop."<ref>{{cite web |date=May 11, 2005 |title=Simon Cowell Says Corey Clark Is A Creep |url=http://popdirt.com/simon-cowell-says-corey-clark-is-a-creep/38790/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104134152/http://popdirt.com/simon-cowell-says-corey-clark-is-a-creep/38790/ |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |website=POPDIRT.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 10, 2005 |title=Simon Says Clark's A Creep |url=http://telepixtvcgi.warnerbros.com/v2/news/0505/10/2/text.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724144058/http://telepixtvcgi.warnerbros.com/v2/news/0505/10/2/text.html |archive-date=July 24, 2009 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |website=Extra! TV |publisher=Time Telepictures Productions and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution}}</ref> Abdul appeared in a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' skit, making light of the situation.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 11, 2005 |title=Abdul pokes fun at sex scandal on 'SNL' |work=Today.com |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/abdul-pokes-funat-sex-scandalon-snl-wbna7761754 |access-date=February 12, 2007}}</ref> In August 2005, the Fox network confirmed that Abdul would be returning to the show, as the investigation had found "insufficient evidence that the communications between Mr. Clark and Ms. Abdul in any way aided his performance".<ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2005 |title=After probe, Paula Abdul to remain on 'Idol' |work=Today.com |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/after-probe-paula-abdul-remain-idol-wbna8931265 |access-date=February 12, 2007}}</ref>

=== 2008 stalking incident ===
On November 11, 2008, a 30-year-old woman named Paula Goodspeed was found dead in her car outside of Abdul's [[Los Angeles]] home in [[Sherman Oaks, California]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Greg Braxton |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/21/entertainment/et-abdul21 |title=Paula Abdul embraces 'American Idol,' survives controversy - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2009-01-21 |access-date=2012-09-22 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707082927/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/21/entertainment/et-abdul21 |archive-date=2012-07-07 |url-status=live }}</ref> The death was ruled a suicide by drug overdose, and she was found surrounded by prescription pills, along with photos and CDs of Abdul. Goodspeed was an obsessive fan of Abdul, having legally changed her name to Paula, drawn many pictures of her, sent her flowers and auditioned for Abdul on [[American Idol season 5|season 5]] of ''American Idol'' in 2005 at a stop in [[Austin, Texas]], before being dismissed from the show.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=6241069&page=1|title=Obsessive Fan of Paula Abdul Commits Suicide|date=November 13, 2008|work=ABC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207134636/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=6241069&page=1|archive-date=7 December 2008|df=dmy-all|access-date=6 September 2017}}</ref> Goodspeed had been accused in the press of being a [[Stalking|celebrity stalker]] but her relatives disputed the claim.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fleeman |first=Mike |url=https://people.com/crime/paula-goodspeed-sent-abdul-flowers-days-before-suicide/|title=Paula Goodspeed Sent Abdul Flowers Days Before Suicide|magazine=People|date=2008-11-14 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922232213/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20240399,00.html |archive-date=September 22, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Anita |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3454575/American-Idol-contestant-Paula-Goodspeed-humiliated-by-rude-Cowell-say-family.html |title=American Idol contestant Paula Goodspeed humiliated by 'rude' Cowell, say family |newspaper=Telegraph |date=2008-11-13 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007195312/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3454575/American-Idol-contestant-Paula-Goodspeed-humiliated-by-rude-Cowell-say-family.html |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Nancy|last1=Dillon|title=Friends defend Paula Abdul fan who committed suicide|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/friends-defend-paula-abdul-fan-committed-suicide-article-1.334516|work=New York Daily News|access-date=May 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612052901/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/friends-defend-paula-abdul-fan-committed-suicide-article-1.334516|archive-date=June 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2023 sexual assault allegations ===
On December 29, 2023, Abdul filed a lawsuit accusing producer [[Nigel Lythgoe]] of sexual assault when they worked together on ''American Idol'' in the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/30/arts/music/paula-abdul-lawsuit-nigel-lythgoe.html |title=Paula Abdul Accuses Nigel Lythgoe of Sexual Assault During 'American Idol' |date=2023-12-30 |last=Jacobs |first=Julia |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref>

==Discography==
[[File:Paula Abdul Hollywood Star.jpg|thumb|right|Abdul's record star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]]]
{{Main|Paula Abdul discography}}

<!-- Only her studio albums should be listed here; not remix albums or compilation albums such as greatest hits. -->
;Studio albums 
* ''[[Forever Your Girl]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Head over Heels (Paula Abdul album)|Head over Heels]]'' (1995)

==Tours and residencies==
'''Headlining'''
*[[Under My Spell Tour]] (1991–92)
*[[Straight Up Paula!]] (2018–19)
*Straight Up! to Canada Tour (2024)<ref name="j046">{{cite web | last=Press | first=David Friend The Canadian | title=Hats off! Paula Abdul lines up Tiffany and Taylor Dayne for Canadian tour | website=Toronto Star | date=June 4, 2024 | url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/hats-off-paula-abdul-lines-up-tiffany-and-taylor-dayne-for-canadian-tour/article_c536f206-2c9d-5d97-acd9-13570bbc9ff1.amp.html | access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>

'''Co-headlining'''
*[[Club MTV#The Club MTV Tour|Club MTV Live]] (1989)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-02/entertainment/ca-4871_1_club-mtv |title='Club MTV' Hits the Road and It's Live |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |date=July 2, 1989 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005130010/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-02/entertainment/ca-4871_1_club-mtv |archive-date=October 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Total Package Tour]] (2017)
*Magic Summer Tour (2024)<ref name="Dutt 2023 b680">{{cite web | last=Dutt | first=Sonal | title=NKOTB Announce Magic Summer Tour with Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff | website=Peoplemag | date=2023-10-30 | url=https://people.com/nkotb-magic-summer-2024-tour-paula-abdul-dj-jazzy-jeff-dates-8384207 | access-date=2023-11-01}}</ref>

'''Residency'''
*[[Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl]] (2019–20)

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1978 
| ''[[Junior High School (film)|Junior High School]]'' 
| Sherry 
|
|-
| 1983 
| ''[[Private School (film)|Private School]]''
| Cheerleader 
| <ref>{{Citation |title=Private School (1983) - IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086143/characters/nm0000716 |access-date=2023-02-22}}</ref>
|-
| 1986 
| ''[[A Smoky Mountain Christmas]]'' 
| Choreographer 
| TV movie
|-
| 1987 
| ''[[Can't Buy Me Love (film)|Can't Buy Me Love]]'' 
| Dancer 
| 
|-
| 1991
| ''[[L.A. Story]]''
| Roller Skater
|
|-
| 1997 
| ''[[Touched By Evil]]'' 
| Ellen Collier 
| TV movie
|-
| 1998 
| ''The Waiting Game'' 
| Amy Fuentes 
| TV movie
|-
| 1999 
| ''[[Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story]]'' 
| Denise Walton
| TV movie
|-
| 2002 
| ''[[The Master of Disguise]]'' 
| Choreographer 
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2005 
| ''[[Robots (2005 film)|Robots]]'' 
| Watch (voice)
| 
|- 
| ''[[Romy and Michele: In the Beginning]]'' 
| Herself 
| TV movie
|-
| 2009 
| ''[[Brüno (film)|Brüno]]'' 
| Herself 
| 
|-
| 2018 
| ''A Sister's Secret'' 
| Detective Tupper
| TV movie
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Impractical Jokers: The Movie]]''
| Herself
|
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (film)|Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers]]''
| Herself
| 
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2| 1988
| ''[[Soul Train]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "New Edition/Paula Abdul" 
|-
| ''[[Showtime at the Apollo]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #2.5" & "#2.12"
|-
| 1989
| ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #3.18"
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Going Live!]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #3.30"
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Fully Booked]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #1.8"
|-
|rowspan=3| 1996
| ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Paula Abdul"
|-
| ''[[Cybill]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Lowenstein's Lament" 
|-
| ''[[The Single Guy]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Affair"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1998
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "David Duchovny/Puff Daddy/Jimmy Page"
|-
| ''[[Spin City]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "It Happened One Night"
|-
|rowspan=4| 1999 
| ''[[The Wayans Bros.]]'' 
| Sasha 
| Episode: "Dream Girl"
|-
| ''[[All That]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "All That Live! (100th Episode)"
|-
| ''Chicken Soup for the Soul'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "The Window/Cookie Thief/Appointment/All Good Things"
|-
| ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Aging, Not So Gracefully"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2002
| ''[[Mad TV]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Episode #8.1"
|-
| ''[[Hollywood Squares]]'' 
| Herself/Panelist
| Recurring Guest
|-
| {{nowrap|2002–23}}
| ''[[American Idol]]'' 
| Herself/Judge 
| Main Judge: Seasons 1–8, Guest Judge: Season 19, Guest: Seasons 9 & 12 & 15 & 21
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #2.3"
|-
| 2003-06
| ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]'' 
| Herself
| Recurring Guest
|-
|rowspan=3| 2004 
| ''Driven'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Paula Abdul"
|-
| ''[[The Bernie Mac Show]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "That Old Mac Magic"
|-
| ''[[That's So Raven]]'' 
| The Host
| Episode: "The Road to Audition"
|-
|rowspan=9| 2005 
| ''Your Total Health'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Episode #2.2"
|-
| ''Fashion in Focus''
| Herself
| Episode: "Big Money Under the Tents"
|-
| ''[[Biography (TV program)|Biography]]'' 
| Herself
| Episode: "Paula Abdul"
|-
| ''[[Dateline NBC]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Episode #13.36"
|-
| ''[[All of Us]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Hollywood Swinging"
|-
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Johnny Knoxville/System of a Down"
|-
| ''[[The Contender (TV series)|The Contender]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Series Finale"
|-
| ''[[I Love the '80s 3-D]]'' 
| Herself
| 10 episodes
|- 
| ''[[Less Than Perfect]]'' 
| Kathleen 
| Episode: "Distractions"
|-
| 2005-07 
| ''[[Family Guy]]'' 
| Herself (voice) 
| Guest: Season 4, Recurring Cast: Season 6
|-
| 2006 
| ''[[The X Factor (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|The X Factor]]''  
| Herself 
| Recurring Guest: Season 3
|-
|rowspan=2| 2007 
| ''[[Hey Paula (TV series)|Hey Paula]]'' 
| Herself 
| Main Cast
|-
| ''[[The Friday Night Project]]'' 
| Herself/Guest Host
| Episode: "Episode #5.6"
|-
|rowspan=3| 2008
| ''RAH! Paula Abdul's Cheerleading Bowl'' 
| Herself/Host
| Main Host
|-
| ''[[Hollywood Residential]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "The Hotness"
|-
| ''[[Hotel Babylon (BBC series)|Hotel Babylon]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Episode #3.1"
|-
|rowspan=4| 2009
| ''InFANity'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "American Idol"
|-
| ''[[Howie Do It]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Episode #1.5"
|-
| ''E! Investigates'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Stalkers"
|-
| ''[[VH1 Divas]]'' 
| Herself/Host
| Main Host
|-
| 2009–11
| ''[[Drop Dead Diva]]'' 
| Herself 
| Recurring Cast: Seasons 1-3
|-
|rowspan=2| 2011 
| ''[[Live to Dance]]'' 
| Herself/Judge 
| Main Judge
|-
| ''[[The X Factor (U.S.)|The X Factor]]'' 
| Herself/Judge 
| Main Judge: [[The X Factor (American season 1)|Season 1]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 2012
| ''[[I Will Survive (TV series)|I Will Survive]]'' 
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #1.14" 
|-
| ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 15)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' 
| {{nowrap|Herself/Guest Judge}}
| Episode: "Opponents' Choice Week" 
|-
| 2013-14
| ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]'' 
| {{nowrap|Herself/Guest Judge}}
| Episode: "Reunited" & "[[Queens of Talk]]"
|-
| 2013-16 
| ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (United States)|So You Think You Can Dance]]'' 
| Herself/Judge 
| Guest Judge: [[So You Think You Can Dance (American season 10)|Season 10]], Main Judge: [[So You Think You Can Dance (American season 12)|Seasons 12]]–[[So You Think You Can Dance (American season 13)|13]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 2014 
| ''[[So You Think You Can Dance Australia]]'' 
| Herself/Judge 
| Main Judge: [[So You Think You Can Dance Australia season 4|Season 4]]
|-
| ''[[Neighbours]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Episode #1.6910"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2015 
| ''[[Real Husbands of Hollywood]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Suck My Trick"
|-
| ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Week Four"
|-
|rowspan=3| 2016 
| {{nowrap|''[[Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life]]''}} 
| Herself 
| Episode: "How to Survive Insufficient Funds"
|- 
| ''[[Lip Sync Battle]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Channing Tatum vs. Jenna Dewan-Tatum"
|- 
| ''[[Bookaboo]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Bookaboo's Barkin' New Year's Eve"
|-
| 2017 
| ''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]'' 
| Holly 
| Episode: "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2018
| ''[[Impractical Jokers|Impractical Jokers: After Party]]'' 
| Herself
| Episode: "Bull Shiatsu"
|- 
| ''[[The X Factor (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|The X Factor]]''  
| Herself/Adviser
| Episode: "Judges' Houses 1"
|-
| 2019
| ''[[America's Got Talent]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Live Results Finale"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2020
| ''[[Celebrity Ghost Stories]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Paula Abdul"
|-
| ''[[Impractical Jokers|Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party]]'' 
| Herself
| Episode: "The Backyard Cookout Episode"
|-
| 2020-21
| ''[[The Masked Dancer (American TV series)|The Masked Dancer]]''
| Herself/Panelist
| Main Panelist
|-
|rowspan=6| 2021
| ''For Real: The Story of Reality TV'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Make It Work"
|-
| ''[[Secret Celebrity Renovation]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Paula Abdul"
|-
| ''[[The Movies That Made Us]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Coming to America"
|-
| ''[[Superstar (American TV series)|Superstar]]'' 
| Herself
| Episode: "George Michael"
|-
| ''[[I Can See Your Voice (American TV series)|I Can See Your Voice]]'' 
| Herself/Panelist
| {{nowrap|Episode: "Holiday Spectacular: Debbie Gibson, Nicole Byer, Paula Abdul, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Houghton"}}
|-
| ''[[The Greatest AtHome Videos]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Let Paula Be the Judge"
|-
|rowspan=4| 2022
| ''[[Janet Jackson (TV series)|Janet Jackson]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Part 2 & 4"
|-
| ''[[Bling Empire]]'' 
| Herself 
| Episode: "Adieu ma Chérie"
|-
| ''American Rescue Dog Show'' 
| Herself/Judge
| Main Judge
|-
| ''[[Made for Love (TV series)|Made for Love]]
| Anydoors 
| Recurring Cast: Season 2
|-
| rowspan=5| 2023
| ''[[The Muppets Mayhem]]
| Herself 
| Episode: "Track 7: Eight Days a Week"
|-
| ''[[Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake]]''
| Herself
| Episode: 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Hell's Kitchen (American TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]''
| Herself
| Chef's table guest diner for the red team; Episode: "Just Bring the DARN Fish!"
|-
| ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American season 32)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' 
| {{nowrap|Herself/Guest Judge}}
| Episode: "Music Video Night"
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Wheel of Fortune]]'' 
| Herself
| Contestant
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2024
|''[[The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Bitter Pill to Swallow"
|-
|''[[Impractical Jokers]]''
|Herself
|Episode: "Paula Abdul:
|}

===As Choreographer===
{|class= "wikitable sortable"
|+ Music Videos
|-
! Year 
! Artist
! Music Video
|-
| 1984 
| [[The Jacksons]] 
| "[[Torture (The Jacksons song)|Torture]]"
|-
|rowspan="8"| 1986 
|rowspan="4"| [[Janet Jackson]] 
| "[[What Have You Done for Me Lately]]"
|-
| "[[Nasty (Janet Jackson song)|Nasty]]"
|-
| "[[When I Think of You]]"
|-
| "[[Control (Janet Jackson song)|Control]]"
|-
| [[ZZ Top]]
| "[[Velcro Fly]]"
|-
| [[Toto (band)|Toto]]
| "Till The End"
|-
| [[Duran Duran]]
| "[[Notorious (Duran Duran song)|Notorious]]"
|-
| [[The Pointer Sisters]]
| "Goldmine"
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1987
| [[Angela Winbush]]
| "[[Run to Me (Angela Winbush song)|Run to Me]]"
|-
| [[Debbie Gibson]]
| "[[Shake Your Love]]"
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1988 
| [[Steve Winwood]]
| "[[Roll with It (Steve Winwood song)|Roll with It]]"
|-
| [[INXS]]
| "[[Devil Inside (INXS song)|Devil Inside]]"
|-
| [[Taylor Dayne]]
| "[[Prove Your Love]]"
|-
| [[George Michael]]
| "[[Monkey (song)|Monkey]]"
|-
| 2014 
| [[Avon Products|Avon]]
| "Check Yourself" 
|}

{|class= "wikitable sortable"
|+ Tours
|-
! Year 
! Artist
! Tour
|-
| 1984 
| [[The Jacksons]] 
| "[[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|Victory Tour]]" 
|-
| 1987 
| [[Kool & the Gang]] 
| <ref>{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=George |title=Too Hot: Kool & the Gang & Me |date=2023 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1641609180}}</ref>
|-
| 1988 
| [[George Michael]]
| "[[The Faith Tour]]" 
|}

{|class= "wikitable sortable"
|+ Movies
|-
! Year 
! Title 
! Notes
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Private School (film)|Private School]]''
|-
| 1986
| ''[[A Smoky Mountain Christmas]]'' 
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1987 
| ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' 
| Won an [[Emmy Award]]
|-
| ''[[Dragnet (1987 film)|Dragnet]]''
| 
|-
| ''[[Can't Buy Me Love (film)|Can't Buy Me Love]]'' 
| 
|-
| ''[[The Running Man (1987 film)|The Running Man]]'' 
|
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1988 
| ''[[Action Jackson (1988 film)|Action Jackson]]'' 
|
|-
| ''[[Coming To America]]'' 
|
|-
| ''[[Big (film)|Big]]''  
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/Live-Dance-Preview-Paula-Abdul-Returns-29088.html |title=Live To Dance Preview: Paula Abdul Returns |last=West |first=Kelly |date=2010-12-29 |website=CinemaBlend |access-date= 2021-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000716/#miscellaneous |title=Paula Abdul - IMDb |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=IMDb.com |access-date= 2021-04-02}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Bull Durham]]''  
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Nashawaty |first1=Chris |title=Worshipping at the Church of Baseball |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2012/07/09/worshipping-at-the-church-of-baseball |website=SI Vault}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1989 
| ''[[She's Out of Control]]'' 
|
|-
| ''Dance to Win'' 
|
|-
| ''[[The Karate Kid Part III]]'' 
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1990 
| ''[[17th American Music Awards]]'' 
| Won an [[Emmy]] for her own performance, "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me"
|-
| ''[[62nd Academy Awards]]'' 
| "Under the Sea" from 'The Little Mermaid' and "Best Costume Design" category
|-
| 1991 
| ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'' 
| [[Val Kilmer]]'s choreographer
|-
| 1996 
| ''[[Jerry Maguire]]'' 
|
|-
| 1999 
| ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]'' 
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2001 
| ''[[Black Knight (film)|Black Knight]]'' 
|
|-
| ''Reefer Madness''
| Off-Broadway
|-
| 2003 
| ''Zoe's Dance Moves''
| 
|-
| 2009 
| ''[[American Idol]]'' 
| Season 8-Disco Week (Results Show)
|-
| 2022 
| ''[https://www.1660vine.com 1660 Vine]'' 
| 
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Nominated work
!Result
!Ref.
|-
| America's Dance Honors 
| 1990
| Choreographer of the Year
| Herself
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="Sondak 1990 k904">{{cite web | last=Sondak | first=Eileen | title='Dance Honors' Limps Through Its 1st Show : Dance: New National Academy of Dance changes honorees in midstream, leaving out those who didn't make it to the San Diego Convention Center. | website=Los Angeles Times | date=January 22, 1990 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-22-ca-421-story.html | access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="8"|[[American Music Awards]]
| rowspan="4"|[[American Music Awards of 1990|1990]]
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist|Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist]]
| rowspan="3"|Herself
| {{won}}
| rowspan="4"|<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1990/amas.htm|title=17th American Music Awards|access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist|Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Favorite Dance Artist
| {{won}}
|-
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album|Favorite Pop/Rock Album]]
| ''[[Forever Your Girl]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="1"|[[American Music Awards of 1991|1991]]
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist|Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist]]
| Herself
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[American Music Awards of 1992|1992]]
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist|Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist]]
| rowspan="2"|Herself
| {{won}}
| rowspan="3"|<ref>{{cite news|title=C + C Tops American Music Awards|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/01/28/c-c-tops-american-music-awards/d6043179-fe38-4408-8c82-dea0730fb0b9/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist|Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Album|Favorite Adult Contemporary Album]]
| ''[[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Awards]]
| [[1990 Billboard Music Awards|1990]]
| #1 World Album
| [[Forever Your Girl]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Music Video Awards]]
| rowspan="4"|1989
| Best Female Video
| rowspan="3"|"Straight Up"
| {{won}}
| rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-12-02.pdf |title=Madonna, Abdul Top Billboard's Music Vid Awards |magazine=Billboard |date=December 2, 1989 |volume=101 |number=48 |page=1}}</ref>
|-
| Best New Artists Video
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Editing 
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Choreography 
| "Cold Hearted"
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|1990
| Best Female Video
| rowspan="2"|"Opposites Attract"
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-10-13.pdf |title=Janet Leads With 6 Billboard-Tanqueray Video Award Noms |last=Newman |first=Melinda |magazine=Billboard |date=October 13, 1990 |volume=102 |number=41 |pages=1, 43}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director 
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Brit Awards]]
| [[1990 Brit Awards|1990]]
| [[Brit Award for International Breakthrough Act|International Breakthrough Act]]
| Herself
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball|Choreographers Carnival]]
| 2013
| Lifetime Achievement 
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="The Official Website of Choreographers Carnival q219">{{cite web | title=The 14th Annual Choreographers Carnival Showcases Movie and Televisions Top Choreographers and Dancers. Honoring The Gene Kelly Legacy, Paula Abdul and Surprise Guest J-Lo! | website=The Official Website of Choreographers Carnival | url=http://www.choreographerscarnival.com/media/the-14th-annual-choreographers-carnival-showcases-movie-and-televisions-top-choreographers-and-dancers-honoring-the-gene-kelly-legacy-paula-abdul-and-surprise-guest-j-lo | access-date=2023-09-13}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ellis Island Medal of Honor]]
| 2019
| 
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="HOMBRE1 2019 v821">{{cite web | title=Paula Abdul, Montel Williams and More Honored at Ellis Island Medals of Honor Ceremony | website=HOMBRE1 | date=2019-05-13 | url=http://hombre1.com/paula-abdul-montel-williams-and-more-honored-at-ellis-island-medals-of-honor-ceremony/ | access-date=2023-09-12}}</ref>
|-
| [[GLAAD|GLAAD Gala]]
| 2019
| Ariadne Getty Ally
| Herself
| {{won}}
| <ref name="Extra 2019">{{cite web | title=Video! Paula Abdul's Heartfelt Speech as She Accepts GLAAD Award | website=Extra | date=2019-09-30 | url=https://extratv.com/videos/mtgaib7syym/ | access-date=2023-02-12}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Grammy Awards]]
| [[32nd Annual Grammy Awards|1990]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]]
| "[[Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)|Straight Up]]"
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/paula-abdul/419|work=[[The Recording Academy]]|date=November 19, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[33rd Annual Grammy Awards|1991]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Short Form Music Video]]
| "[[Opposites Attract]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| Hollywood Christmas Parade
| 2023
| Humanitarian of the Year
| Herself
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="Cordero 2023 g985">{{cite web | last=Cordero | first=Rosy | title=Paula Abdul To Be Honored As Humanitarian Of The Year At Hollywood Christmas Parade | website=Deadline | date=2023-11-20 | url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/paula-abdul-humanitarian-of-the-year-hollywood-christmas-parade-1235627585/amp/ | access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
| 1991
| Herself
|  
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://walkoffame.com/paula-abdul/|title=Paula Abdul|access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Impact Awards
| 2022
|
| Herself
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="Aventura Magazine. 2022 n234">{{cite web | title=Impact Awards Gala Returns to Miami | website=Aventura Magazine | date=2022-05-10 | url=https://aventuramagazine.com/impact-awards-gala-returns-to-miami/ | access-date=2023-09-10}}</ref>
|-
| Industry Dance Awards
| 2014
| Icon
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
|<ref name="PR) 2014 r793">{{cite press release | last=PR) | first=Company (EKC | title=2014 Industry Dance Awards Honoring Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul and More, Rocked the House at Avalon Hollywood on Wednesday Night | website=GlobeNewswire News Room | date=2014-09-12 | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2014/09/12/1001782/0/en/2014-Industry-Dance-Awards-Honoring-Nigel-Lythgoe-Paula-Abdul-and-More-Rocked-the-House-at-Avalon-Hollywood-on-Wednesday-Night.html | access-date=2023-09-12}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Juno Awards]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Juno Awards of 1990|1990]]
| [[Juno Award for International Album of the Year|International Album of the Year]]
| ''[[Forever Your Girl]]''
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"|
|-
| [[Juno Award for Best Selling Single|International Single of the Year]]
| "[[Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)|Straight Up]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Los Angeles Music Awards]]
| 1992
| Pop Album of the Year 
| Spellbound 
| {{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="17"|[[MTV Video Music Awards]]
| rowspan="2"|[[1987 MTV Video Music Awards|1987]]
| rowspan="2"|[[MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography in a Video]]
| "[[Nasty (Janet Jackson song)|Nasty]]" <small>(by [[Janet Jackson]])</small>
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2"|
|-
| "[[When I Think of You]]" <small>(by [[Janet Jackson]])</small>
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[1989 MTV Video Music Awards|1989]]
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]]
| rowspan="6"|"[[Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)|Straight Up]]"
| {{won}}
| rowspan="6"|
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Push Best New Artist|Best New Artist in a Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video|Best Dance Video]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video|Breakthrough Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography in a Video]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing|Best Editing in a Video]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[1990 MTV Video Music Awards|1990]]
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]]
| rowspan="6"|"[[Opposites Attract]]"
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="6"|
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video|Best Dance Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video|Breakthrough Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction|Best Direction in a Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography in a Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Special Effects in a Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1991 MTV Video Music Awards|1991]]
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]]
| "[[Rush Rush (Paula Abdul song)|Rush Rush]]"
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1995 MTV Video Music Awards|1995]]
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video|Best Dance Video]]
| rowspan="2"|"[[My Love Is for Real]]"
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"|
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography in a Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Music Business Association]] 
| 2017
| Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian  
| Herself
| {{won}}
| <ref name="Music Business Association 2017 t507">{{cite web | title=Paula Abdul to Receive Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award at Music Biz 2017 in Nashville | website=Music Business Association | date=2017-02-28 | url=https://musicbiz.org/news/paula-abdul-receive-harry-chapin-memorial-humanitarian-award-music-biz-2017-nashville/ | access-date=2023-09-10}}</ref>
|-
| [[National Eating Disorders Association]]
| 2005
| Profiles in Living 
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="Tulsa World 2023 z460">{{cite web | title=Prize fight | website=Tulsa World | date=2023-09-07 | url=https://tulsaworld.com/archive/prize-fight/article_14830f3a-a3ef-540a-acc8-dca945a46598.html | access-date=2023-09-12}}</ref>
|-
| [[Nevada Ballet Theatre]]
| 2007
| Woman of the Year 
| Herself
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="Katsilometes 2018 u160">{{cite web | last=Katsilometes | first=John | title=Remembering our Woman of the Year moment with Paula Abdul | website=Las Vegas Review-Journal | date=2018-11-07 | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/remembering-our-woman-of-the-year-moment-with-paula-abdul-1521935/amp/ | access-date=2023-08-22}}</ref>
|-
| Nevada Equality Awards
| 2019
| Ally Leadership 
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="Las Vegas Sun 2019 w148">{{cite web | title=Paula Abdul, David Parks lauded for their LGBTQ advocacy | website=Las Vegas Sun | date=2019-11-06 | url=https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2019/nov/06/paula-abdul-david-parks-lauded-for-lgbtq-advocacy/ | access-date=2023-09-10}}</ref>
|-
| NewNowNext Awards
| 2010
| Always Next, Forever Now Icon
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
|<ref name="PR Newswire 2010 o915">{{cite press release | title=Paula Abdul to Receive Always Next, Forever Now Icon Award at Logo's Third Annual 'NewNowNext Awards' 2010 | via=PR Newswire | date=2010-06-01 | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paula-abdul-to-receive-always-next-forever-now-icon-award-at-logos-third-annual-newnownext-awards-2010-95300069.html | access-date=2023-09-12}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards]]
| [[1990 Kids' Choice Awards|1990]]
| Favorite Female Musician/Group
| Herself 
| {{won}}
| 
|-
| [[1991 Kids' Choice Awards|1991]]
| Hall of Fame 
| Herself 
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/989856/kids-choice-awards-best-moments-john-cena-britney-spears-nickelodeon/|title='Kids' Choice Awards' Best Moments, From John Cena and Britney Spears to Michelle Obama|work=[[TV Insider]]|date=12 March 2021|access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[People's Choice Awards]]
| [[16th People's Choice Awards|1990]]
| rowspan="2"|[[People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Artist|Favorite Female Musical Performer]]
| rowspan="2"|Herself
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2"|
|-
| [[17th People's Choice Awards|1991]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="8"|[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[40th Primetime Emmy Awards|1988]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography|Outstanding Choreography]]
| rowspan="2"|''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]''
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="8"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Paula Abdul|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/paula-abdul|work=[[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]]|access-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref><br /><ref>{{cite web|title=Outstanding Choreography - 1990|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1990/outstanding-choreography|work=[[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]]|access-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[41st Primetime Emmy Awards|1989]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[42nd Primetime Emmy Awards|1990]]
| ''[[American Music Awards of 1990|The 17th Annual American Music Awards]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[55th Primetime Emmy Awards|2003]]
| rowspan="5"|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program|Outstanding Reality-Competition Program]]
| rowspan="5"|''[[American Idol]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[56th Primetime Emmy Awards|2004]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[57th Primetime Emmy Awards|2005]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[58th Primetime Emmy Awards|2006]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[59th Primetime Emmy Awards|2007]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Queerty|Queerties Awards]]
| 2024
| Straight Up Ally 
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
| <ref name="Queerty 2024 u676">{{cite web | title=Paula Abdul's sleeper hit defied all expectations, saved her career & made her a "Straight Up" global superstar | website=Queerty | date=March 12, 2024 | url=https://www.queerty.com/paula-abduls-sleeper-hit-defied-all-expectations-saved-her-career-made-her-a-straight-up-global-superstar-20240312 | access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| Revel Dance Convention 
| 2021
| Revelation Icon
| Herself 
| {{won|Honored}}
|
|-
| Shorty Awards
| 2020
| Best Celebrity 
| Herself 
| {{nom}}
| <ref name="Mamo 2020 a582">{{cite magazine | last=Mamo | first=Heran | title=Beyoncé, Zendaya, J Balvin & Lil Nas X Nominated for 2020 Shorty Awards | magazine=Billboard | date=2020-01-21 | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2020-shorty-awards-nominations-8548580/amp/ | access-date=2023-09-16}}</ref>
|-
| [[Soul Train Music Awards]]
| [[1990 Soul Train Music Awards|1990]]
| [[Soul Train Music Award for Best Song of the Year|Best Song of the Year]]
| "[[Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)|Straight Up]]"
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[Teen Choice Awards]]
| [[2003 Teen Choice Awards|2003]]
| Choice TV: Reality Babe
| Herself
| {{won}}
| <ref name=Billboard>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70551/2003-teen-choice-awards-nominees|title=2003 Teen Choice Awards Nominees|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|date=June 18, 2003|access-date=June 24, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[2004 Teen Choice Awards|2004]]
| Choice Reality/Variety TV Star - Female
| Herself 
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[2005 Teen Choice Awards|2005]]
| Choice TV Personality - Female
| Herself 
| {{nom}}
| 
|-
| YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund AMY Awards
| 2006
| Leadership 
| Herself
| {{won}}
|<ref name="TODAY.com 2009 x283">{{cite web | title=Paula Abdul | website=Today.com | date=2009-08-05 | url=https://www.today.com/slideshow/amp/paula-abdul-32300337 | access-date=2023-09-10}}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=paula-abdul-mn0000031380}}
* {{Amg name|78920}}
* {{IMDb name|0000716}}
* {{NYTtopic|people/a/paula_abdul}}

{{Paula Abdul}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Paula Abdul
|list = 
{{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist}}
{{EmmyAward Choreography}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul, Paula}}
[[Category:Paula Abdul| ]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
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[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:Actresses from California]]
[[Category:American cheerleaders]]
[[Category:American choreographers]]
[[Category:American contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:American female dancers]]
[[Category:American women pop singers]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American Idol participants]]
[[Category:American music journalists]]
[[Category:American people of Syrian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Syrian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American tap dancers]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:American women choreographers]]
[[Category:American women television producers]]
[[Category:California State University, Northridge alumni]]
[[Category:Concord Records artists]]
[[Category:American dance-pop musicians]]
[[Category:Dancers from California]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Jewish American actresses]]
[[Category:Jewish American musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish dancers]]
[[Category:Jewish women singers]]
[[Category:NBA cheerleaders]]
[[Category:People from San Fernando, California]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Singers from California]]
[[Category:Television producers from California]]
[[Category:Van Nuys High School alumni]]
[[Category:Virgin Records artists]]
[[Category:American women writers about music]]
[[Category:Judges in American reality television series]]
[[Category:American people of Canadian descent]]